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ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a packing and displaying box for receiving a multitude of primary packages, comprising a bottom surface, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls, wherein the side walls have flaps in the area of their upper edges, the flaps projecting inwardly and being aligned in a position departing substantially from the verticality, preferably forming an angle with the vertical of more than 40°, more preferably more than 60°, still more preferably more than 80° and most preferably of 90°; to a combination of more than one primary package and a packing and displaying box to contain and display the primary packages; and to a blank for making a packing and displaying box according to the invention.

The present invention relates to a packing and displaying box forreceiving a multitude of primary packages, comprising a bottom surface,a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls, to a combination ofprimary packages and a packing and displaying box containing them and toa blank for making a packing and displaying box according to the presentinvention.

Generally, industry producing consumer goods designs and delivers amultitude of single and small packages (called from this point onwardsprimary packages) which are located in a bigger packing box, especiallyfor easy transport and often called secondary packaging. Very oftenthese bigger packing boxes are constructed in a way that they can alsobe directly put into the shelves of shops and supermarkets allowing theconsumer to take out the single primary packages which he wants to buy.To draw consumer's attention to the primary packages, it is importantthat the holding packing box is on the one hand formed in a way that theprimary packages are not completely hidden by the packing box whilebeing at the same time easy to take out from the packing box. On theother hand, however, the packing box has to stabilize the primarypackages to avoid disorder of the primary packages within the packingbox and to ensure an attractive appearance in the shelves of the shop orsupermarket. This last requirement is normally fulfilled by using acompact distribution of the packages within the packing box (i.e. notallowing for any free space for the packages to move). This normallyavoids disorder of the packages at least until the consumer removes onesuch package from the packing box thereby creating free space that willallow subsequent free movement of the packages.

The problem of package disorder within a packing box is particularlyacute when the box is designed to be also a display packaging and istherefore provided in its open state with side walls which have a heightsubstantially lower than the height of the primary packages containedtherein to permit a good visibility of such packages by the consumer. Inthis case not only package disorder will occur but it will also beassociated with the effect of the primary packages falling down to theirsides thereby reducing consumer perception of the packing box'scontents.

Packing boxes are known which fulfill only one feature mentioned above,e.g. only stabilizing the primary packages within a packing anddisplaying box, but making it more difficult to take them out, forinstance by providing a packing box with side walls having a heightwhich corresponds to the total height of the packages contained thereinThis solution does not avoid however the problem of packaging disorderand falling down once the packing box has been partially emptied byremoving some of the primary packages.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packingand displaying box for receiving a multitude of packages, whichovercomes the drawbacks known in the prior art, especially to provide animproved stabilization of primary packages combined with an enhancedvisibility of the packages contained therein and an easy removaltherefrom. It is an additional object of the present invention toprovide a combination of primary packages and a packing and displayingbox to contain and display the primary packages ensuring that they willneither get disordered within the packing box nor fall down to theirsides. It is still an additional object of the present invention toprovide a single-piece blank for making a packing and displaying boxaccording to the invention.

The first two objects are achieved in that the side walls of the packingand displaying box have flaps in the area of their upper edges, theflaps projecting inwardly and being aligned in a position departingsubstantially from the verticality, preferably forming an angle with thevertical of more than 40°, more preferably more than 60°, still morepreferably more than 80° and most preferably of 90° (angle of 90° withthe vertical).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said flaps are arrangedalternatingly on the side walls providing at least one flap per primarypackage.

Alternatively, said flaps are arranged alternatingly on the side wallsproviding at least one flap per primary package except for the firstand/or last package in the packing and displaying box.

In a preferred embodiment, each flap is loosely engageable with oneprimary package.

In a preferred embodiment the primary packages show at their surfacesfacing the side wall of the packing box and confronted with the flaps anindentation for loose engagement with such flaps.

In another embodiment, the packing and displaying box is made of ablank, which is made of cardboard.

Preferably, the side walls of the packing and displaying box aredouble-walled.

In one alternative of the invention, the front and rear walls are fixedto the side walls by means of rough surfaces which are retained withinthe double-walled side walls.

In another alternative, the front wall is substantially cut out.

The third object, namely providing a single-piece blank for making apacking box, is achieved in that the side walls comprise extensions forengaging into grooves punched on the bottom surface when the blank isfolded, and the side walls comprise flaps slitted therein and projectinginwardly and being aligned in a position departing substantially fromthe verticality, preferably forming an angle with the vertical of morethan 40°, more preferably more than 60°, still more preferably more than80° and most preferably of substantially 90° when the blank is folded.

In a preferred embodiment, the blank comprises folds and double-foldsfor folding the blank according to a specific pattern.

In a most preferred embodiment, the folds and double-folds comprisesmall incisions.

Surprisingly it was found that by arranging small flaps inwardly on theside walls of the packing and displaying box according to the presentinvention, the primary packages located therein could be stabilized andcould be prevented from falling, whereas it could also be achieved thatthe packing and displaying box has only small dimensions, therefore notcovering the primary packages and providing an easy take out. The flapsof the packing and displaying box may be loosely engageable with theprimary packages and therefore prevent falling. An attractive appearanceof the packing box with the primary packages is ensured. Further, it wassurprisingly found, that the specific blank disclosed enables an easymaking of the packing box of the invention.

A particular advantage of the blank according to the invention is thatthe flaps position themselves in the inwardly projecting position whenthe double side walls are folded over themselves when the packing box iserected, without the need of any actuation on the flaps. This isadvantageous as it simplifies the erecting process resulting in thepossibility of using a simpler erecting machine and in a shortage of thetime needed for erection of the packing box.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with appropriate reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein

FIG. 1 shows a blank for making a packing and displaying box accordingto the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a folded and assembled packing anddisplaying box according to the invention filled with primary packages.

FIG. 1 shows a blank 1 of the present invention for making a packing anddisplaying box 14. The basis of the blank 1 is a cardboard, which ispunched into the desired base form. The cardboard comprises a bottomsurface 2, a front wall 3, a back wall 4 and two side walls 5. The frontwall 3 and the rear wall 4 comprise prolongations preferably in the formof rough surfaces 6. On the bottom surface 2 four grooves 7 are punchedin the area of the longitudinal edges of the bottom surface 2. The sidewalls 5 each comprise two extensions 8 which correspond to the grooves 7on one side of the bottom surface 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, oneach side wall 5, two flaps 9 are located thereon which are in planewith the unfolded blank 1. The flaps 9 are provided on the side walls 5by slitting the appropriate shape of the flaps 9 into the side walls 5with punching a little hole 10 below each flap 9. On the plane blank 1 anumber of folds 11 and double folds 12 are provided for folding theblank 1 into the packing and displaying box 14 according to a specificpattern.

To assemble the packing and displaying box 14 according to the presentinvention, the front wall 3 and the rear wall 4 are folded verticallywith regard to the plane bottom surface 2. The prolongation in the formof rough surfaces 6 of the front and rear walls 3, 4 are then foldedvertically with regard to the front and rear walls 3, 4, and the sidewalls 5 are afterwards folded around the double fold 12, so that theextensions 8 may engage into the corresponding grooves 7 to affix thewalls 3, 4 and the side walls 5 in an upright position. By folding theside walls 5 around the double fold 12 the flaps 9 will automaticallyraise from the surface plane of the side walls 5 and will projectinwardly and will align in a position departing substantially from theverticality, preferably forming an angle with the vertical of more than40°, more preferably more than 60°, still more preferably more than 80°and most preferably being substantially horizontal (angle of 90° withthe vertical), when the extensions 8 are engaged with the grooves 7.

A folded and assembled packing and displaying box 14 according to thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 2. As may be seen from FIG. 2., thepacking box 14 may comprise a number of primary packages 13, in FIG. 2six primary packages 13 are located in the packing box 14. Of course,for every primary package 13 at least one flap 9 may be provided tostabilize the primary package 13 in the packing box 14 according to thepresent invention. Each flap 9 may loosely engage with a side portion ofa primary package 13, preferably comprising an indentation 15 forimproved engagement. However, for example in case that six primarypackages 13 are to be located in the packing box 14, only four flaps 9are necessary as a minimum, wherein the flaps 9 are alternatinglyarranged on the side walls 5 to stabilize the second to fifth primarypackage 13. The first primary package 13 in the packing and displayingbox 14 does not need a stabilizing flap 9, since the first primarypackage 13 is stabilized by the front wall 3 and the second primarypackage 13. When the first primary package 13 is taken out from thepacking and displaying box 14, the second primary package 13 isprevented from falling by its flap 9. The third to fifth primarypackages 13 are stabilized accordingly. In case, only the sixth primarypackage 13 is left in the packing and displaying box 14 it is stabilizedby the rear wall 4.

Of course, the number of flaps 9 may be adjusted according to therequirements of the primary packages 13. Moreover, the shape and thedimension of the flaps may be adjustable. Also, one may imagine toarrange the flaps 9 between the primary packages 13 for stabilization inwhich case of course there will be no advantage in providing primarypackages 13 with an indentation 15 thereon. Further, the shape of thefront and rear walls 3, 4 and the side walls 5 may be adjusted asrequired. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the front wall 3 may comprisea cutout to improve the appearance of the primary packages 13 in thepacking and displaying box 14 as visibility of the first primary package13 is enhanced.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claimsand/or in the accompanying drawings may, both separately and in anycombination thereof, be material for realizing the invention in diverseforms thereof.

1. Packing and displaying box (14) for receiving a multitude of primarypackages (13), comprising a bottom surface (2), a front wall (3), a rearwall (4) and two side walls (5) having flaps (9) in the area of theirupper edges, the flaps (9) projecting inwardly and being aligned in aposition departing substantially from the verticality, preferablyforming an angle with the vertical of more than 400, characterized inthat the flaps (9) are arranged alternatingly on the side walls (5)providing at least one flap (9) per primary package (13).
 2. Packing anddisplaying box according to claim 1, wherein the flaps (9) form an anglewith the vertical of more than 60°.
 3. Packing and displaying boxaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the flaps (9) are arrangedalternatingly on the side walls (5) providing at least one flap (9) perprimary package (13) except for the first and/or last primary package(13) in the packing and displaying box (14).
 4. Packing and displayingbox according to claim 1, characterized in that each flap (9) is looselyengageable with one primary package (13).
 5. Packing and displaying boxaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the packing box (14) is madeof a blank (1), which is made of cardboard.
 6. Packing and displayingbox according to claim 1, characterized in that the side walls (5) aredouble-walled.
 7. Packing and displaying box according to claim 6,characterized in that the front and rear walls (3, 4) are fixed to theside walls (5) by means of rough surfaces (6) which are retained withinthe double-walled side walls (5).
 8. Packing and displaying boxaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the front wall (3) issubstantially cut out.
 9. Combination of a multitude of primary packages(13) and a packing and displaying box (14) according to claim
 1. 10.Combination according to claim 9, characterized in that each flap (9) isloosely engageable with one primary package (13).
 11. Combinationaccording to claim 10 characterized in that each primary package (13)comprises at its sides an indentation (15) for loose engagement withsuch flaps (9).
 12. Blank (1) for making a packing and displaying box(14) according to claim 1, characterized in that the side walls (5)comprise extensions (8) for engaging into grooves (7) punched on thebottom surface when the blank (1) is folded, and the side walls (5)comprise flaps (9) slitted therein intended to project inwardly and bealigned in a position departing substantially from the verticality,preferably forming an angle with the vertical of more than 400, when thebox is erected.
 13. Blank according to claim 12, characterized in thatthe blank (1) comprises folds (11) and double-folds (12) for folding theblank (1) according to a specific pattern.
 14. Blank according to claim12, characterized in that the folds (11) and double-folds (12) comprisesmall incisions.
 15. Packing and displaying box according to claim 1,wherein the flaps (9) form an angle with the vertical of more than 80°.16. Packing and displaying box according to claim 1, wherein the flaps(9) form an angle with the vertical of more than 90 °.